Stopping mechanism fob knitting machines



f'De 18, 1928.

' J. REGAN STOPPING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 27, 19252 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmmu Dec. 18, 1928.

1,695,387 J. REGAN STOPPING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J0 fif Z5 Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFHCEQ JOHN REGAN, on NEW 'nnnronn, MASSACHUSETTS,AsSienoaTo' CROMP'ION & KnewLEs LOOM worms, or VIGBCESTEB,MASsAonusETTs, A coa-ronATron or MASSACHUSETTS.

STOPPING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Application filed July 27, 1925. Serial No. 46,218.

This invention relates to a stopping mechanism for a knitting machineand particularly to mechanism for preventing the machine from turningbackward.

It has been found that a knitting machine when Stopped automaticallyfrequently turns backward a sufficient amount to unthread certain of thehooks. This backward movement may be occasioned by different causes suchas the relative positions of certain unbalanced parts of the machine atthe instant of stopping.

After the machine has stopped and turned backward to an extent,sufficient to unthread any of the hooks, a serious defect is caused inthe fabric when the machine is again started in operation.

It is the object of my invention to provide mechanism for automaticallystopping a knitting machine and for preventing backward movement of themachine when thus stopped.

My invention further relates to arrangement and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which Fig.1 is an end elevation of parts of a knitting machine embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional plan view, taken along the line 22 in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation, looking in the direction of thearrow 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation, taken along the line 44 in Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 3 but1 showing the parts indifferent positions; anc

Figs. 7 and 8 are views similarto Fig. 4 and taken along the lines 77and 88 in Figs. 5 and 6 respectively.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, I have shown portions of a knittingmachine comprising a frame 10, yarn rolls 11, tension or Whip rolls 12and knitting mechanism indicated generally by the letter M. The machineis provided with a pair of bottom shafts 13 and 14 connected by gears 15and 16 and driven by a pinion 17 meshing with the gear 15 on the shaft13. The pinion 17 is mounted upon a drive shaft 18 and the rotationthereof is controlled through connections (not shown) from a shipper rod20. The rod 20 is slidable in bearings 21 and 22 on the frame 10 and isprovided with a fork 23 engaged by an arm 24 (Fig. 2) which may be swungmanually by a handle (not shown).

The parts thus far described are of the usual type and in themselvesform no part of my present invention. Acam 25 (Figs. 3 and 4) on theshaft 18 acts through a lever 26 and link 27 (Fig. 1) to actuate thestop motion which is fully described and claimed in my priorapplication, Serial No. 572,208, filed November 25, 1924.

For the purposes of this application it is sufficient to state that anarm 30 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1' is swung upward whenever theStop motion acts to bring the ma chine to rest. This arm 30 is connectedby a link 31 to a latch 32 which engages a collar 33 (Fig. 3) whichforms apart of a sleeve 34 which is slidable on the rod 20 and whichsupports a coil spring 35 interposed between the collar 33 and themachine frame 10.

The outer face of the collar 33 engages a collar 36 fast to the shipperrod 20 and provided with an offset and downwardly inclined finger 37.The collar 36 is preferably cut away as indicated at 38 (Fig. 6) toclear the latch 32. Y

A ratchet wheel 40 is fixed on the shaft 18 and is engaged by a pair ofholding pawls 41 and 42. The pawl 41 is provided with a rod 43 which isbent rearwardly to form a hook which engages the finger 37 as indicatedin Figs. 3 and 4.

The pawl 42 is provided with a flange or projection 45 overlying aportion of the pawl 41 so that when the pawl 41 is raised it will carrywith it the pawl 42. The pawls 41 and 42 are of such lengths that theyform a half-tooth spacing for the teeth of the ratchet wheel 40. Thelatch 32 is pivoted upon a fixed bracket 46 secured to the frame 10.

The normal running position of the parts is as shown in Figs. 3 and 4,with the latch 32 engaging and holding the collar 33, and with thespring 35 in compression. The shipper rod 20 is in its right hand orrunning position and the finger 37 on the collar 36 projects under thehook 43 and holds the pawls 41 and 42 in raised or inoperative positionas clearly shown in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 5 and 7 I have indicated the re lation of the parts when themachine is stopped hy hand. In this case the shipper rod 20 is moved tothe left, sliding freelythrough the collar 33 in the sleeve 3% whichparts are retained in their normal position by the latch 32, Thismovement of'tlie shipper rod, however, carries the collar 36 to theleft, thus withdrawing the finger 37 sufliciently to permit the pawls 4Hand 4&2 to engage the ratchet wheels 40 and prevent backward movement ofthe shaft 18.

In Figs/(Sand 8, I have indicated the operation when the machine isstopped automatically. In this case the arm (Fig. 1) swung'upward,acting through the link 31 toraise the latch 32 and release the collarThe spring 35 then acts to force the collar to the left, carrying withit the collar 36 on the shipper rod 20 and thus again withdrawing thefinger 37 and per mitting the pawls 4-1 and 1-2 to engage and hold theratchet wheel'tO.

I have thus provided exceedingly simple mechanism by whichv the knittingmachine will he held from backwardmovement when the machine is stoppedeither manually or automatically, and at the same time ll avoidexcessive wear of the pawls by holding them out of operation during thenormal running of the machine.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notWish to be limited to the'details herein" disclosed, othcrwise than asset forth in the claims, but what I claim is 2- 1. In a knittingmachine, a reverse looking mechanism comprising a normallyinoperativeholding device, andmeans to render said holding device operative toprevent rearward movement of the machine as said machine is about to hestopped, said holding device comprising a ratchet wheel, a holding pawl,a sliding rod, a pawl-controllingfinger mounted on said rod aspringprcssedactuating device for said slidingmod; and automaticallycontrolled'means for holding and releasingsaid actuating device.

2. In a knitting machine, a reverse lockmechanismcomprising a normallyinoperative holdingidevice, and means-to render said holding deviceoperative to prevent rearwardmovement ot the machine as said machine isabout to he stopped, said holding device comprising a ratchet wheel, aholding pawl, a sliding rod, a finger mounted'on said rod and normallyholdingsaid pawl in raised inoperative position, a spr ing pressedactuating device for said sliding fed, a latch for said actuatingdevice, and a connection through which said latch is raised as saidmachine is about to be stoppedautomatically.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atfixed my signature.

JOHN REGAN.

